Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-09


ident, having received q communication
from the American Fisheries Union of Mas
saehusetts, calling attention to the fisheries
dispute and suggesting that the retalliatory
act passed by the late Congress would, in
their opinion, be sufficiently executed ifthe
proposed retaliation was confined TO the
closing of the United States market to
Canadian fish products, he has made the
following answer:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, I
WASHINGTON, ID. C., April Z, 1887.
George Steel, Esq, President american Fish
cry URiOR, and Others, Gloucester, Mass,
GENTLENEN:-I have received your let
ter lately addressed to me and have given
full consideration to the expression OF the
views and wishes therein contained, in re-
lation to the existing differences between
the Government of Great Britain and the
United States, growing out of the refusal
to award to our citizens engaged in fishing
enterprises the privileges to which they
are entitled, either under the treaty stipu-
latiOns or the guarantees of international
comfy and neighbOrly concession.
| sincerely trust the apprehension you
express of unjust and unfriendly treatment
Of American fishermen lawfully found in
Canadian waters, will not be realized But
if such apprehension should prove to be
well founded, l earnestly hope that no
fault or incOnsiderate action Of any Of our
citizens will in the least weaken the Just
position Of our government, or deprive us
of the universal sympathy and support to
which we should be entitled. The action
of this administration since June, 1885 has
been fully disclosed by the correspondence
between the representatives and the ap-
propTiate departments of the respective
governments, with which | am apprised
by your letter you are entirely familiar.
An examination of this correspondence has
doubtless satisfied you that in no case
have the rights OF privileges of American
fishermen been overlooked or neglected
but that, on the contrary, they have been
seduOuSly insisted upon and cared for by
every means within the control of the eN-
eCutive branch of the government.
The act of Congress approved March 3,
1887, authorizing a course OF retaliation
through executive action, in the event of a
continuance on the part of the British
American authorities of unfriendly con
duct and treaty violations affecting Amer
lean fishermen, has devOlyed upon the
President OF the United States exceedingly
grave and solemn responsibilities cOmpre
hending highly important consequences to
our national character and dignity, and in
vOlving extremely valuable commercial in
tercouse between the British possessions OF
North America and the people Of the
United States. l understand the main
portion of your letter is to suggest that in
case the retaliatoTy measures author
lied by this act, should be invited
by unjust treatment Of our fishermen
In the future the object of such retaliation
might be fully accomplished by ''prOhib-
iting Canadian. caught fish from entering
into the ports of the United States. The
existing controversy is one in which two
nations are the parties eoncOrded. The
retaliation contemplated by the act of
Congress is to be enforced not to protect
solely any particular interest, however
meritOriOus OF valuable, but to maintain
the national honor, and thus protect all
our people In this view, the violation Of
American fishery rights, and the unjust or
unlriendly acts towards a portion Of our
Citizeus engaged in this business, is but
the occasion for action, and constitutes a
national affront, which gives birth to or
NAV Justify retaliation. This measure,
once resOrted To, its effectiveness
and value may well depend up
en- the thOroughness and extent
Of its application, and the performance of
International duties, the enforcement OF
international rights, and the protection Of
our citizens Of this Government and the
people of the United States must act rs q
unit, all intent upon attaining best result
OF relation upon the basis OF maintain
ance of national honor and duty. A nation
seeking by any means, to maintain its
honor, dignity, and integrity, Is engaged
in protecting the rights of its people; and
If in such efforts particular interests are
injured and special advantages forfeited
these things should he borne patriOtically
for the public good
In the performance OF the serious duty
which the Congress has imposed upon me
and in the exercise upon Just occasion OF
the power conferred under the act referred
to, l shall deem myself bound to intiict no
unnecessary damage or injury upon any
portion of our people, but | shall, never
Iheless, be unfinchingly guided by sense
of what the self respect and dignity of the
nation demand In the maintenance OF
these and in the support Of the honor of
the Government under which every citi-
zen may repOse in safety, no sacrifice of
personal or private interests shall be con-
sidered as against the general welfare.